Belfast vs London
Cost of living, weather and lifestyle comparison.
Cheaper: Belfast
Better Weather: London
Lifestyle: London
Overall: Belfast
Cost of Living (2025 data) Belfast
| Belfast | London | |
|---|---|---|
| Average Rent | £1,130 | £2,286 |
| Average House Price | £178,459 | £542,304 |
| Average Monthly Energy Bill | £71.30 | £163.60 |
| Average Monthly Food Cost | £77.90 | £63.50 |
| Average Salary | £3,159 | £4,641 |
Belfast is considerably cheaper than London across the board. From rent and house prices to energy bills and weekly food shops, residents in Belfast enjoy a markedly lower cost of living. It is worth noting that average salaries in London are around 38% higher, which partially offsets the difference in living costs. This is one of the most significant differences between these two cities and is likely to be a deciding factor for many.
Weather (2025 data) London
| Belfast | London | |
|---|---|---|
| Sunshine Hours | 1239 | 1533 |
| Rainfall | 822mm | 604mm |
| Average Temperature | 12.99°C | 15.00°C |
The weather gap between London and Belfast is significant. London receives around 294 more hours of sunshine per year and it is also drier, with roughly 218 mm less rainfall annually. Residents of London benefit from a meaningfully more pleasant climate, which makes a real difference to daily life, outdoor activities and general wellbeing.
Want to know more about the weather and weather history? Then visit our sister site https://uk-historic-weather.co.uk
Lifestyle & Location London
London offers a notably stronger lifestyle proposition than Belfast. Standout features include Major Airport Nearby, Strong Rail Links, Large City. That said, Belfast has its own draws such as Compact City, Affordable Housing. For many people, the breadth and quality of what London brings to the table will be a compelling draw.
Belfast
- Lower than average housing costs (economic)
- Smaller, easier to navigate city (size)
- Population 352,390
London
- Within close distance of a major airport (transport)
- Good rail connectivity to major cities (transport)
- Above average salaries (economic)
- Major UK city (size)
- Population 9,089,736
Nearest Premier League Football Club
Belfast
Finding nearest club…
London
Finding nearest club…
Location
Belfast
London
Who Should Choose Each?
Choose Belfast if:
- More affordable overall (salary-adjusted)
- Lower rent costs
- More affordable house prices
- Compact City
- Affordable Housing
Choose London if:
- Higher average salaries
- More sunshine
- Less rainfall
- Warmer average temperature
- Major Airport Nearby
- Strong Rail Links
- Large City
- High Salaries
Overall Score
Belfast
London
Final Verdict
Belfast comes out ahead overall.
On paper, Belfast has a fractional advantage over London, largely on the strength of affordability. In practice, however, this comparison is razor-thin. Both cities deliver a compelling proposition and the tiny gap between them means your own priorities — whether that is career, family, social life or something else entirely — should be the real deciding factor.